Mario Kart World needs to add these 9 retro tracks as DLC
Although Nintendo hasn’t officially confirmed downloadable content for Mario Kart World, it’s only a matter of time until it does get revealed.
After Mario Kart 8 Deluxe climbed to the second spot on the list of most successful Nintendo games of all time (behind only Wii Sports), it was pretty obvious that this series was going to become the company’s focus for the early Switch 2 era.
Especially after the success of the previous game’s Booster Course Pass, which added 48 remastered courses from previous games into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, it’s pretty clear that a similar kind of expansion is on the way for Mario Kart World.
We imagine that whatever DLC does end up getting added to Mario Kart World, it’ll either be in the form of a new island featuring 32 new tracks, or as an extension of the current map allowing for connections between the original tracks and the new ones.
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Nonetheless, with such a DLC inevitable, here are nine tracks from classic Mario Kart games that we feel need to be included when Nintendo releases it.
Cheep Cheep Island
- Debuted: Mario Kart Super Circuit
- Also Appears In: Mario Kart Tour
Cheep Cheep Island first appeared in Mario Kart: Super Circuit, and wasn’t seen again until it got added 20 years later in Mario Kart Tour. But with the latter game now confirmed to be shutting down later this year, it’s time to resurrect this track on a new, more permanent system.
Although aesthetically it might be a little similar to Koopa Troopa Beach, which is already in the base version of Mario Kart World, Cheep Cheep Island benefits from being a little larger, and has a fun diversity in the landscape, with half the track devoted to a series of bridges going across a large body of water, and the other half featuring a dirt path going through a wooded area.
Wario Colosseum
- Debuted: Mario Kart Double Dash
- Also Appears In: None
One of the best tracks in Mario Kart: Double Dash, it’s bizarre to think that Wario Colosseum has never been remastered in any games that came after the Nintendo GameCube.
Its legendary status can be attributed to fun twisty roads that are seen in the first half of the track, featuring several corkscrew sections which would be incredibly chaotic with Mario Kart World’s 24-player race size.
Bowser’s Castle (Wii)
- Debuted: Mario Kart Wii
- Also Appears In: None
Another track that hasn’t been seen since its original appearance, it’s customary for every Mario Kart game to feature a Bowser’s Castle track, but we can’t help but feel that the Wii version needs to make a comeback.
From the early twisty hallway, to the fireball-laden speedway, and ending on the mad dash over lava-spewing dirt road, this version of Bowser’s Castle would fit in nicely with Mario Kart World’s emphasis on more hazard-filled tracks, and is one we’d surely love to see come back in the DLC.
Wuhu Loop
- Debuted: Mario Kart 7
- Also Appears In: None
Although crossovers and collaborations weren’t as prevalent in Mario Kart 7 compared to Mario Kart 8, the game did feature two tracks inspired by Wii Sports Resort’s Wuhu Island.
Wuhu Mountain Loop and Wuhu Island Loop feel perfect for Mario Kart World’s open world gameplay. For starters, you could insert the island on the outside of the game map, accessible by water or flight, and could seamlessly integrate both tracks into one location, offering multiple versions of the tracks to play depending on which direction you’re coming from.
Delfino Square
- Debuted: Mario Kart DS
- Also Appears In: Mario Kart Wii
As Nintendo describes it as the “Mario Kart equivalent of Monaco”, Delfino Square’s narrow roads taking place across plaza and pier makes it an incredibly iconic track from the DS era of the series. Especially with that dynamic drawbridge which can make or break a race.
The track hasn’t been seen since Mario Kart Wii, so it’s about time to bring it out of retirement for another go, along with a larger Isle Delfino theme as part of Mario Kart World’s DLC map.
Baby Park
- Debuted: Mario Kart Double Dash
- Also Appears In: Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart 8, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Kart Tour
The ‘Shipment’ of Mario Kart, Baby Park feels like the kind of track that needs to make regular re-appearances in every new game simply due to how legendary the race has become.
Baby Park simply represents how chaotic Mario Kart games can be. You’ve got this really tiny looping circuit, where it’s possible to be hit from a wide variety of different items, and employing any actual strategy to win becomes an impossibility. Nintendo, I need it now.
Luigi’s Mansion
- Debuted: Mario Kart DS
- Also Appears In: Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart Tour
Featuring the spooky Boo Woods, as well as the grim architecture of the titular mansion’s exterior and interior, a Luigi’s Mansion revival would bolster up Mario Kart World’s spooky-themed track offerings.
Unfortunately, this track has only ever appeared on handheld versions, debuting in Mario Kart DS and re-appearing in Mario Kart 7 and Mario Kart Tour. A new version debuting on Switch 2 with modern graphics would give the track the revival it desperately needs.
Banshee Boardwalk
- Debuted: Mario Kart 64
- Also Appears In: Mario Kart DS
Another spooky-themed track, Banshee Boardwalk has not had its time in the spotlight for quite some time, last appearing in Mario Kart DS back in 2005. Prior to that, it was introduced in Mario Kart 64.
With its status of essentially being “spooky Rainbow Road”, it’s about time it gets a comeback for Mario Kart World with a big makeover. You just need to add a few more hazards, change up that middle house section a little, and maybe actually add a banshee.
Sunshine Airport
- Debuted: Mario Kart 8
- Also Appears In: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Sunshine Airport is still fresh in most players’ minds thanks to the popularity of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but we reckon this is one of the few tracks from that game that deserves to make a comeback due to its theming and clever design.
There are simply too many iconic parts of this track which need to come back for Mario Kart World. The change between weaving in and out of different planes, to taking flight up in the air, to finishing on the conveyor belt is simply too good to stay relegated to one Mario Kart game.
Plus, including an airport in Mario Kart World would finally explain how people can even arrive on the island in the first place.
Topics: Nintendo, Mario Kart, Mario, Super Mario, List, Features